Is Digital painting better than Traditional painting?

Question

this is a difficult yet common question and usually is in regards to working professionally in this day and age.

Answer 1

There is no better! Just different! Short answer: it depends on you, why you make art, and what YOU need in your process!

I am an illustrator. In my industry, time is money, and my style can be pretty complex! So digital cuts my working time in half, and I don't have to pay for supplies. For your reference: here are some strengths and minuses to both! BUT, for some people, their traditional work is what sets them apart and makes them more marketable, especially in editorial and advertising illustration.

Also, I was going to mention portability, but lets be honest, if you want to make something happen, you can. You'll just need access to water if you want to physically paint, and you'll need access to a power source or device if you want to digitally paint.

DIGITAL:

Pros–

•once comfortable, can speed up your process.

•work with photos

•can copy, paste, undo, work in a reversible layered approach

•can work in vector, infinitely scalable

•Super easy to export and use as a digital file

•Can design the file from the beginning for animation purposes...this can mean more $$$

Cons–

•huge learning curve at first

•some programs are pretty expensive, ESPECIALLY on a subscription or if you need multiple

•It can take a long time to learn to make it look "good." A lot of it looks too much like other people's work.

•You'll always chase the charm of traditional mark making. You have to learn to manufacture it, and sometimes it's just impossible

•apps crash sometimes. HUGE bummer. You have to save as often as possible just in case.

TRAD:

Pros–

• natural charm, will have more easier-to-produce "human" looking qualities

•You have a physical product, this distinguishes market value over AI if you can sell it as fine art

•Free Christmas gifts afterword!!

•more surprises, has some potential for more organic expression

Cons–

•High quality photograph can be difficult with a glossy surface

•Arguably, can take longer unless you are super comfortable with your process

•depending on media, can also be expensive. Take proper care of your supplies if you want them to last.

•maybe makes a big mess

•supply clutter

•can't undo, sometimes pieces get ruined and you just have to start from scratch

Answer 2

Both are important. If you are looking at the industry, a digital painting might be more appropriate. It is easier to share with others. If it's for a project, it's easier to make changes. On the other hand, there is nothing like a hand painted piece of art. There is a difference in how we express ourselves in these different mediums. Often times, we have a deeper connection with a piece of artwork we touched. The digital world adds a bit of distance between the art and the artist. I think both are of equal merit.

Answer 3

Unless you've already established yourself with a traditional art brand, I'd say digital painting is the way to go now . The tools available become more and more accurate to the traditional counterpart. Programs like Rebelle, Coral Painter, Krita, and Adobe Fresco do a great job at "simulating" the materials and Rebelle even goes a step further and simulates water dripping and drying time!

Traditional art can be implemented in creating a working brand , but if speed is a concern, then it's worth looking into digital. Both can also work simultaneously off each other if you don't need to meet as many pressing deadlines and look to create art that benefits from traditional supplies.

Answer 4

Both have their place in the industry. If you are streamlining your workflow then digital is worth the investment to learn. There are so many applications, tools and features that can make digital painting very enjoyable. But, if you are someone who is more tactical and love to get your fingers "dirty" transitioning maybe challenging. I starting in Traditional Painting but as life circumstances changed and time was more limited I really enjoyed digital painting. It saved me time buying/returning supplies, clean-up, having the proper space for set-up and air-quality and storage. I don't think I will every old a paintbrush again!

Answer 5

Both are valuable, but Digital is definitely the winner if you want to work as a professional. it's simply faster and more flexible, without any real loss in quality unless you are looking to work in exclusively fine arts.